DVD Review: PEG + CAT Chickens On The Loose And Other Really Big Problems

PEG + CAT

Peg + Cat is a really cute little show on PBS. It is a math based curriculum with a female lead character, Peg. Her sidekick is her cat, Cat. Peg + Cat is all about solving the “really” big problem each episode. This problem could be counting to 100, sorting, patterns, ordinal numbers and much more. Each episode is comprised of two 11 minute mini episodes that introduce and reinforce the same concept. These concepts are presented to children in easy to understand ways. This first ever collection of PEG + CAT episodes will be available to purchase on September 9, 2014. You can find more specifics about the DVD below.

FIRST PEG + CAT DVD, “CHICKENS ON THE LOOSE AND OTHER REALLY BIG PROBLEMS,” DEBUTS THIS SEPTEMBER
PBS KIDS Series PEG + CAT Helps Kids Build Math and Problem Solving Skills

Arlington, Va. – July 16, 2014 – PBS Distribution announced today it will be releasing eight stories from PBS KIDS’ popular PEG + CAT series on the new DVD “PEG + CAT: CHICKENS ON THE LOOSE AND OTHER REALLY BIG PROBLEMS.” What would it be like to wake up and find yourself in the middle of a zany, wacky, loony, math word problem? That’s what life is like for the adorable, spirited Peg and her sidekick, Cat, the heroes of this animated math-based adventure series for preschoolers that helps kids learn problem solving and foundational math concepts and skills.

Each PEG + CAT adventure features a story in which Peg and Cat encounter an unexpected challenge that requires them to use math and problem-solving skills in order to save the day. While teaching specific math lessons, the series displays the values of resilience and perseverance.

PEG + CAT was created by Billy Aronson (“Rent,” “Postcards from Buster”) and Jennifer Oxley (“Little Bill,” “The Wonder Pets!”) and is a production of The Fred Rogers Company. PEG + CAT, which made its broadcast debut in October 2013, airs daily on PBS KIDS (check local listings).

“PEG + CAT: CHICKENS ON THE LOOSE AND OTHER REALLY BIG PROBLEMS” will be available on September 9, 2014. The DVD run time is approximately 100 minutes and its SRP is $12.99. In addition to featuring eight fun-filled stories, the DVD also includes special features – printable coloring pages and activities.

The Chicken Problem:
Peg and Cat have to get 100 chickens back in the coop before the farmer sees.
Primary Learning Goal: Size correspondence
Secondary Learning Goal: The number 100

The Space Creature Problem:
Peg, Cat and Richard must get the 100 chickens away from Big Mouth and back to their spaceship.
Primary Learning Goal: Counting by tens
Secondary Learning Goal: The number 100

The Messy Room Problem:
Peg and Cat sort through the mess in Peg’s room just in time for company to come over and see Cat’s masterpiece, “The Circles.”
Primary Learning Goal: Sorting
Secondary Learning Goal: Shapes

The Golden Pyramid Problem:
Peg the Bold and Brave Sir Cat, Knights of the Round Table, search far and wide to retrieve the Mermaid’s golden pyramids.
Primary Learning Goal: Solid shapes
Secondary Learning Goal: Counting by twos

The Three Bears Problem:
Peg and Cat bring the Three Bears, the Three Little Pigs, and the Three Billy Goats Gruff together to form a super group: “The Electric Eleven.”
Primary Learning Goal: Adding 1
Secondary Learning Goal: Counting to 11

The Giant Problem:
Peg and Cat must attempt a great escape when they think the Giants want to eat them and their 8 fairy tale friends for lunch.
Primary Learning Goal: Combinations that add up to 10
Secondary Learning Goal: Circle

The Dinosaur Problem:
When Peg and Cat get lost riding dinosaurs through a prehistoric forest, they use a diagram to find their way to safety before the Baby T-Rex catches up to them.
Primary Learning Goal: Following diagrams
Secondary Learning Goal: Patterns

The Beethoven Problem:
When Peg and Cat are helping their pal Ludwig Van Beethoven write a symphony, Cat laughs in a certain pattern that gives Beethoven a great idea.
Primary Learning Goal: Patterns
Secondary Learning Goal: Ordinal Numbers

PEG + CAT is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education through the Ready To Learn Initiative, a program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online, mobile and community-based programs. Kidscreen- and Webby-award winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including the PBS KIDS video player, now offering free streaming video accessible on computer-and mobile-device-based browsers. For more information on specific PBS KIDS content supporting literacy, science, math and more, follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

About The Fred Rogers Company
The company was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health and supporting parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals in their work with children. The Fred Rogers Company continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media, and engaging new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated children’s TV series include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Peg + Cat. For more information, visit us at www.fredrogers.org.

About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,400 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.

About The Ready To Learn Initiative
The Ready To Learn Initiative is a cooperative agreement funded and managed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement. It supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families. Its general goal is to promote early learning and school readiness, with a particular interest in reaching low-income children. In addition to creating television and other media products, the program supports activities intended to promote national distribution of the programming, effective educational uses of the programming, community-based outreach and research on educational effectiveness. Proceeds from “PEG + CAT: CHICKENS ON THE LOOSE AND OTHER REALLY BIG PROBLEMS” DVD will help support projects that further the goals and objectives of the Ready To Learn Initiative.

About PBS Distribution
PBS Distribution is the leading media distributor for the public television community, both domestically and internationally, extending the reach of these programs beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system and our production partners.

PBS Distribution offers a diverse range of programming to our customers, including Ken Burns’s films, documentaries from award-winning series such as NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN MASTERS, NATURE, and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, dramas from MASTERPIECE, as well as films from independent producers and popular children’s programming. As a multi-channel distributor, PBS Distribution pursues wholesale/retail sales, consumer and educational sales through PBS-branded catalogs and online shops, and international broadcast and video sales. PBS Distribution is also a leader in offering programming through digital platforms including internet and mobile devices.

The contents of this release were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. [PR/Award No. U295A100025, CFDA No. 84.295A]